Fountain sponge having expansible discharge orifice



Nov. 18, 1952 T. BOWMAN ET AL 2,61 8,002

FOUNTAI NQ SPO NGE HAVING EXPANSIBLE DISCHARGE ORIFICE Filed June 17, 1947 i x xsz fjii ELE INVENTORS JOHN T. BOWMAN THOMAS H. IOKHOFF Patented Nov. 18, 1952 FOUNTAIN SPONGE HAVING EXPANSIBLE DISCHARGE ORIFICE John T. Bowman and Thomas H. Eickhoff, Cincinnati, .Ohio, assignors to Jon Henri, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 17, 1947, Serial No. 755,140

This invention relates to cleaning devices, and

more particularly to fountain sponges- An object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, yet highly eificient fountain sponge which includes means for insuring an adequate supply or flow of water to all portions of the active surface of the sponge. A further object of the invention is to provide a fountain sponge wherein water is discharged interiorly thereof in such a manner as to cause a flow of water thru the body portion of the sponge and thence onto the various cleaning faces thereof.

. Still another object of the invention is to provide afountain sponge wherein the body member is fabricated from porous or cellular material, the outer active or working surfaces ofwhich are continuously cleansed of dirt, grime and other abrasive substances removed from a surface to be cleaned, thereby eliminating the likelihood of scratching or otherwise damaging the surface being cleaned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fountain sponge having the hereinabove described characteristics and which includes a supply hose having an end shaped in such a manner 7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top' view of the end of a length of hose cut to provide a water distribution member comprising a detail of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the hose of Fig. 3.

With reference to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the present device comprises a body portion ll] fabricated from cellular or porous material such as, by way of example, so-called latex air cell foam rubber, sponge rubber or the like. The body of the sponge may be rectangular in shape, including upper surface l2, lower surface l4, side surfaces I6 and front and rear surfaces I8 and 20 respectively. Preferably the length of dimension is from 1 to 2 times the width dimension, this relationship having proved itself in practice.

Claims. (Cl. 15-130) A length of hose 22 has one end permanently embedded within sponge I0, the other-end being provided with a suitable coupling member 24 for facilitating attachment of the hose to a source of water under pressure.

With reference now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the end of hose 22 is cut,- or otherwise formed with a slot 26 to provide a pair of laterally spaced flap 21, the width of which slot approximates from A; to of an inch, and the length of which may be from 2 to 4 times the diameter of the hose. The ends of the hose are trimmed in a plane at substantial right angles to the plane of slot 26 to provide a taper 28 of from 30 to 45 degrees. The sponge is prepared for hose 22 by making an incision from therear surface 20 into the body thereof wherein the depth of the incision exceedsjthe length of slot 26 by a dimension of from one to three times the diameter of hose 22. I l

A suitable rubber adhesive is generously 'applied to the endadjacent .outer surface of hose 22, and after flaps 21 have been brought together, it may be introduced forwardlyinto the interior of the sponge to assume the'position illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the adjacent faces 30 of flaps 21 will be disposed in substantial line contact for the major portion of their length, thereby providing a pair of elongated fiuid discharge slits 32 extending along opposite sides of hose 22 and preferably in a plane at right angles relative to upper and lower surfaces l2 and I4 of the sponge. The forward end of said slits terminate in an expansible discharge orifice defined by those portions of flaps 21 which project forwardly from edges 30.

When water under pressure is introduced thru hose 22, it will be discharged interiorly of sponge ID in such a manner as to adequately and thoroughly saturate the sponge to such an extent that water will literally flow outwardly from the entire area of each of the active surfaces of the sponge. This action effectively cleanses the active surface of the sponge of foreign particles such as dirt, grime, and the like, whereby the active surface will at all times be free of particles which could otherwise scratch the surface being cleaned.

As a greater quantity of water is caused to flow thru hose 22, the adjacent edges of the elongated discharge slit 32 will be moved apart, thereby enabling greater quantities of fluid to be discharged into the body of the sponge at substantial right angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the sponge. Likewise, the expansible characteristics of the end of the hose will result in an enlargement of the end-orifice incident to an increased flow of water thru the hose, thereby flooding water forwardly as well as sideways and rearwardly throughout the interior of the sponge.

By reason of the construction and physical characteristics of the hose, ail dangernofbuilding up pressures within the interior of "the sponge which might rupture the sponge and/or cause a loosening between the adhesive between the sponge and hose 22 is effectively eliminated.

In those instances where the *sponge'isifa'bricated from a good quality latex air celffoa'm rubber, the device may be disconnectedirom .a source of water and drained whereupon the sponge may be used as a chamois.

What is claimed is:

1. A fountain sponge comprising a sponge rubber body portion and a resilient tubular waiterzd livery channel embedded therein, said channel eterminating in .a restricted, expansibledischarge -orifice, 1and a .pair of elongated discharge ;slits in open communication therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom.

o '2. A fountain sponge comprising aspongewrubfiber body portion, and a-hose :one end of which -has:=a-s1ot of .-a length: in excess-*of the diameter woithe hose, the saidslotted end' of the hose being -tion :and:a:resil-ientgphable water delivery chanmel iembeddedfithereingsaid .channeliterminating iinteriorly of 's'aidbodyf portion :inxan i expansible *subs'tantiallyy -:sh'a;ped' orifice,' the :sidesiof which are located in opposite portions .o'fethe' wallio'f saidxizhannel.

' "-4. a fountain ?sponge comprising Ta substantially rectangularly shaped sponge rubber body portion having top, bottom, front, rear and side surfaces and a flexible water delivery channel embedded within said body portion intermediate the top and bottom surfaces, said channel having "fa -pair of laterally spaced elongated rdischarge vvslits opening toward the side :surfaces of said body portion and terminating at their forward ends in a restricted expansible end discharge orifice.

f5..iA ifountain "sponge comprising a sponge rubberbody portion and a hose with slots of a ilengthagreatermhan the hose diameter in opposite mortionsnf tlreip'eriphery of the hose for providin'g a pair o'f'Tlaps the ends of which taper from theslot-to said .end of the hose, means for securing said end portion interiorly of the body portion and means within said body portion for normally and yieldably maintaining adjacent portions of said-slot in substantially :line contact for establishing an .iBXPfiDSiblQ :substantially U shaped tapered discharge-1 orifice.

JOHN T.. J'BOWMAN. 'II-IOMAS .H. .EICKHGEF.

REFERENGES @ITED Theffollowing references are of record in the file o'f'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

